Hello AACC Members and friends,
The 50th Australian Gala was a truly unforgettable evening celebrating Australia and our vibrant Bay Area community. From inspiring performances to meaningful recognition, the night reflected the strength and spirit of the Australia-U.S. relationship.
A highlight of the evening was the extraordinary performance by Australian opera singer Morgan Balfour, whose remarkable voice captivated guests once again. We are also deeply grateful to all of our sponsors, especially our valued partners at United Airlines and Penfolds — for their continued support. From United’s flight attendants welcoming guests to the VIP Lounge, to the ceremonial sabering of Penfolds Brut Champagne, these moments added a special sense of celebration to the evening. Thanks to Australian basketball player Alex Toohey for joining us, we look forward to cheering you on upon your return to the Golden State Warriors.
We were honoured by the remarks of Ambassador Kevin Rudd and Consul General Chris Ketter. Both recognised the Chamber’s longstanding role in strengthening ties between Australia and the United States in the Bay Area.
This milestone event would not have been possible without the dedication of our MC Gordon Stirling, the AACC Board, the Gala Committee, our generous auction and raffle donors, and the many volunteers who contributed their time and energy. Special thanks to Mel Zajic for her outstanding leadership in bringing this anniversary gala to life.
We also proudly recognised this year’s award recipients:
- Airwallex, Australian Innovation Excellence
- Silicon Catalyst, US-Australian Expansion
- CSIRO, Lifetime Achievement in Australian Innovation
We extend our thanks to our esteemed judging panel for their work in reviewing this year's many submissions.
- Sharmaine Ramasamy
- Alan Watters
- Julia French
- Philip W. Braddock
- Michael Brett
A particularly meaningful moment was honouring Viki Forrest with the Ambassador Bill Lane “Spirit of Australia” Award. Viki has been a cornerstone of the Australian technology community for more than 30 years. Through her work with ANZA Technology Network and the Queensland Government, she has helped countless Australian companies establish and succeed in the United States. We thank Viki for her extraordinary contribution and wish her all the very best in her retirement.
Looking ahead, we are excited to continue building partnerships that support the next generation of Australian startups and investors entering the U.S. market with Aura Ventures and the LEAP Program. If you would like to be part of this effort, we would love to hear from you.
We also look forward to upcoming community events, including International Women’s Day, the ANZAC Service, and our regular Aussie Coffee Meet Up.
Finally, we are thrilled to be working with the Australian Government, Oakland Roots SC, and Football Australia as plans develop to support the Australia men's national soccer team during their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign. We are especially excited that Oakland Roots’ home ground will serve as a training site while the team is in the United States. Stay tuned for more details.
Thank you to everyone who made this milestone celebration so special.
Cheers,
Dawn
On behalf of the AACC Board
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